“The Church is the community where the unthinkable gets thought and the unsayable gets said.” -Walter Brueggemann

“Never, never let anyone tell you that what you are doing is insignificant. Let them know that the sea is made up of drops of water. There is no way in which injustice can ever prevail over goodness.” -Desmond Tutu

Today, as I came across the two quotes below, it got me thinking a bit about the importance of humility and faith.

I wonder, if we could turn back the pages of history when religions legitimized violence, hatred and war; if instead those who were such certain advocates of these had been more humble in their faith in God and practice of their faith whether much of the darkness of religious history would have been avoided and humankind may have moved a bit closer to perfect shalom; a more concrete manifestation of the realm of God; of God’s will being done on earth as in heaven.

I wonder too, if, as we look at all of the troubled spots in the world today; whether a greater mixture of humility and faith would turn around the violence and evil that seems so prevalent in far too many places; carried out with the pretext of knowing God and knowing and doing God’s will in the name of God and of what is believed to be the only true faith. I wonder…

“Those who believe they believe in God without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, not in God Himself.” –Madeleine L’Engle

“Men [and women] never do evil so completely or cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” – Blaise Pascal

This is a tough question, since I have many favourite quotes. Plus I think as we journey through life, we hopefully keep growing and maturing in many and various ways—hence there are favourite quotes that we identify with in each stage of life.

At this stage in my life, there are a couple of quotes that are meaningful—especially in light of the increasing conflicts, wars, violence and hatred among various nations, religions, and civilizations. They are, the words of Jesus’ ‘higher way’ of all-encompassing love, and a related quote from Lutheran pastor and World War II prisoner in Sachsenhausen concentration camp, Rev. Martin Niemoeller.

Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:43-45: “You have heard it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

Martin Niemoeller said: “It took me a long time to understand that God is not the enemy of my enemies. God is not even the enemy of God’s enemies.”

Both quotes point humankind to a reality above and beyond hatred, violence, war and conflict; where peace-shalom and non-violence prevail. A dream that we need to keep dreaming; a vision that we need to keep seeing; until, by the grace of God, it becomes reality.

The following quote, echoing biblical texts, I think, is a living parable of Jack Layton, NDP National Leader. His life was consistent in that he died as he lived. The quote epitomizes it. “My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.” [From Jack Layton’s last letter, written to Canadians on his death bed].